Editorial introductions

Abstract

Current Opinion in Neurology was launched in 1988. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of neurology is divided into 14 sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Stéphane LehéricyStéphane LehéricyStéphane Lehéricy is Professor of Neuroradiology in the Salpêtrière hospital (PUPH), France. He has completed his PhD in basic neuroscience studying the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (Yves Agid, Inserm, Paris, France), a post-doc in functional neuroimaging at SHFJ-CEA (Denis Le Bihan, Orsay, France). He spent about three years at the Centre for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA (Kamil Ugurbil) studying basal ganglia function using high field MRI. Together with Pr Marie Vidailhet, Prof. Lehericy is co-head of the research team ‘Movement, Investigations and Therapeutics’ at Paris Brain Institute (ICM – Institut Cerveau Moelle, France). He also heads the Centre for NeuroImaging Research (CENIR), the ICM imaging platform and the Department of Neuroradiology of the Salpêtrière hospital. Dr Lehericy's scientific interest is in the study of the physiology of motor control and pathophysiology of movement disorders (focus on Parkinson's disease), neuroimaging and data analysis. His focus is on the functional organisation of the human motor system. He has contributed to the understanding of the functional and anatomical circuitry of the basal ganglia and of network dysfunction in movement disorders and particularly Parkinson's disease using multimodal MRI. Nutan SharmaNutan SharmaNutan Sharma, MD PhD, established the Dystonia Center for comprehensive care of patients with dystonia with sites at both Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Woman's Hospital. The Center integrates information obtained from the systematic examination and treatment of patients with research regarding the pathophysiology of dystonia. Dr Sharma is the Principal Investigator of the Clinical Core of an NIH-funded P01 grant, “Molecular Etiology of Early Onset Torsion Dystonia’. The P01 supports: (1) systematic clinical evaluation as part of a longitudinal study of the natural history of dystonia; (2) collection of families with dystonia, obtaining both DNA and systematic clinical examination data, to help identify as yet unidentified dystonia causing genes. This work has led to the identification of mutations in GNAL as a cause of dystonia and contributed to the characterization of the phenotypic spectrum and response to treatment associated with KMT2B and ADCY5 mutations; (3) fMRI studies to evaluate white matter microstructure in those with focal dystonia. The genetic studies are in collaboration with Dr Laurie Ozelius. Dr Sharma is also a member of the Collaborative Center for the study of X-linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism (XDP). The XDP Center serves to fund research and medical care for those with XDP. The objectives of the Center include: (1) Identification and enrollment of patients with XDP and their families, including DNA isolation, generation of lymphoblast, fibroblast and iPS cell lines and (2) laboratory research that is conducted both at MGH and by other investigators, at various institutions throughout the world, who are invited to apply for funding that is then reviewed by a scientific advisory board. Dr Sharma established a natural history study protocol, with quantitative, cost-effective bedside measures that provide sensitivity and specificity in monitoring the course of XDP. Dr Sharma received her MD and PhD from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA. After completing a neurology residency at Yale University, USA, she completed a fellowship in movement disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital. She has received many grants for her work from research organizations including the NIH, the National Parkinson's Foundation and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.